DemographicS t u d y

2014

Raffaele Poli, Roger Besson & Loïc Ravenel

With the collaboration of Andrea Pessina, Elias Georgiou, Raphaël Crettol and Grégory Martin

© Copyright 2014 CIES Football Observatory. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the authors.

2 Demographic Study 2014

About the CIES Football Observatory

About the CIES

The CIES Football Observatory is a unique project initiated in 2005 by Drs Raffaele Poli and Loïc Ravenel under the name of the Professional Football Players Observatory (PFPO). Since 2011 it is one of the cornerstones of the broader CIES Sports Observatory project, dedicated to the statistical anal-ysis of sport in all its diversity.

Two annual reports are published for football. In January, the Demographic Study presents an in-depth analysis of club composition and player characteristics in 31 top divi-sion leagues of UEFA member countries. In June, the Annual Review analyses clubs and players in the big-5 European leagues from a demographic, economic and pitch perfor-mance perspective.

Methodological rigour coupled with a deep knowledge of football guarantee high quality analyses at competitive rates.

For more information: www.football-observatory.com

The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) is an in-dependent study centre located in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It was created in 1995 as a joint venture between the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the University of Neuchâtel, the City and State of Neuchatel.

Using a multi-disciplinary approach CIES provides research, top-level education and consulting services to the sports wor-ld with the aim of overcoming the complexities of sport in to-day’s society and improving how it is governed and managed.

For more information: www.cies.ch

Introduction 3

Foreword

Doctor, is it serious?

The more we know, the more we want to find out. This is the modus operandi of the CIES Football Observatory research team when we tackle our annual Demographic Study of the European football players’ labour market. We can say with confidence that our thirst for knowledge is shared by many actors in professional football. We hope that this latest edition will whet your appetite to find out more about the dynamics at work in the 31 championships studied. New analyses specif-ically elaborated for this edition will help you to compare the state of football between different countries.

Generally speaking, the Study shows that professional Eu-ropean football is still confronted with processes that do not necessarily augur well for its future. The cloud of econom-ic uncertainty that hangs over sporting logics is flagrant in many clubs and countries. In general, the number of trans-fers carried out by teams during the current season is at an all-time high. A trend that is difficult to understand given the actual climate with its numerous financial difficulties.

The increasing speculation surrounding players’ transfers is also visible through the progressive drop in the number of club-trained players, which has attained its lowest level since 2009. Conversely, the percentage of expatriate play-ers has risen for the second consecutive year. Here too, the figure has never been so high. More and more teams are integrated into international networks driven by the desire to increase the market value of players by transferring them whenever a lucrative opportunity presents itself.

Our Study shows that a thorough rethink is necessary to intro-duce adequate regulatory mechanisms to protect players in particular, and football more generally, against the increasing-ly speculative nature of the transfer market. Our analyses al-low us to identify not only the situations most at risk, but also the more worthy realities from which we can draw inspiration.

Enjoy your read!

Raffaele Poli, head of CIES Football Observatory

4 Demographic Study 2014

Sample and glossary

The data presented in this report were carefully gathered and analysed by the CIES Football Ob-servatory academic team. They concern players present on October 1st in first team squads of clubs in 31 top division leagues of UEFA mem-ber associations. To be included in the sample, a footballer has to have played in championship matches during the season in question or he must have played in adult leagues during each of the two preceding ones. Matches in B-teams for unplayed A-team squad members are not considered. All first team goalkeepers are tak-en into account up to a number of three, even though they may not have yet played in adult leagues. Above three, goalkeepers are included only if they fulfil this latter condition.

For the purpose of the analysis, leagues sur-veyed were divided into five continental areas (see map on the next page). Championships were also split according to sporting level. Three categories were determined by taking into account the CIES Football Observatory Eu-ropean league ranking. This is based on results achieved in European club competitions by league representatives.

The following indicators are analysed:

• Squad size: number of players corresponding to the above mentioned criteria (first team squad members)

• Age:age of squad members on October 1st of a given year

• Age of recruitment:age at which squad members were recruited by their employer club. Not including players signed from youth academies

• Height:height of squad members in centimetres

• New signings:squad members with previous experience in adult leagues recruited between January 1st and October 1st of a given year

• Academy players:squad members who started their career in adult leagues between January 1st and Octo-ber 1st of a given year

• Stay:number of seasons of players as first team squad members in their employer club

• Club-trained players:players among squad members who played for at least three seasons between the ages of 15 and 21 for their employer club

• Active internationals:players among squad members who played for a national A-team between January 1st and October 1st of a given year

• Expatriates:players among squad members who began playing in a different national association from that of their employer club and who went abroad for football-related reasons

• Loans:squad members under contract with their em-ployer club on a temporary basis

Introduction 5

Not in the sample

Northern Eastern

Southern

WesternCentral

PORESP ITA

FRA

ENG

SCO

GERNED

BEL

SUI

SVNCRO

SRB

HUNAUT

CZESVK

POL

ROM

BUL

TUR

GRE

CYP

ISR

UKR

BLR

RUS

FIN

SWENOR

DEN

Continental areas

League category

Level 1

- England - Spain - Germany - Italy - France

Level 2

- Portugal - The Netherlands - Ukraine - Russia - Belgium - Greece - Denmark - Turkey - Austria - Switzerland - Romania

Level 3

- Cyprus - Czech Republic - Israel - Sweden - Poland - Norway - Croatia - Belarus - Serbia - Slovakia - Bulgaria - Hungary - Scotland - Finland - Slovenia

6 Demographic Study 2014

Highlights

Record low for club-trained playersThe Study shows that the percentage of expa-triate players reached a new record high this season: 36.8%. The proportion of footballers who have already experienced international migration during their career was also never as high as for current season: 49.3%. These find-ings confirm the growing internationalisation of football players’ labour market.

While Brazil remains the most represented for-eign origin, their number decreased by 67 since 2009: from 538 to 471. France is the second nation with the highest number of expatriates in top division European leagues: from 247 to 306 (+59) during the same period. The biggest increase since 2009 was observed for Spain: from 57 to 178 (+121).

The increase in international mobility goes hand in hand with the decrease in the percentage of club-trained players. Despite the regulations in-troduced in many countries and at UEFA club competition level, the relative presence of foot-ballers playing for the club where they were trained reached a new record low: 21.2%.

A new record was also registered with regard to the number of new signings. On average, 41.3% of top division teams in Europe are made up of players recruited from January 2013 on-wards (10.2 signings per club). Transfer activity is particularly high in Southern and Eastern Eu-rope: on average 12.1 new signings per team in both areas. This figure is almost twice as high as in Northern Europe (6.8).

At league level, Italy and England top the table for the largest squads (26.8 players per club on average). Italian Serie A also gathers the most seasoned footballers (27.3 years) and the least percentage of club-trained players (8.4%). The tallest league is German Bundesliga (183.8cm), while the shortest is Spanish Liga (180.1cm).

The highest percentage of players with national A-team caps in 2013 was recorded in England (44.3%). The English Premier League also has the second highest percentage of expatriate footballers (60.4%), just after Cyprus. The lat-ter country also tops the ranking of the highest number of players signed after January 2013 (on average 14.1 per club). This figure was only 5.3 in Sweden.

At club level, the Study reveals that Barcelo-na has the second shortest squad (177.4cm) among the 472 club surveyed, as well as the most stable one. Players in the Catalan club have been on average for 5.5 years in the first team squad. The average stay is above 5 years in only one other club: Manchester United.

The highest percentage of players having rep-resented national A-teams in 2013 was record-ed at Chelsea (80%). The London club outranks Manchester City and Fenerbahçe. Inter Milan has the greatest proportion of expatriate foot-ballers (89%), ahead of Porto. Crystal Palace has the largest squad among teams surveyed (34 players).

Finally, our analysis confirms the excellent work undertaken by Ajax in the area of youth training. The Dutch side tops the table of clubs having trained the most players under contract with top division teams in Europe. With 69 representa-tives, Ajax outranks Partizan Belgrade, Barcelo-na, Hajduk Split and Sporting Lisbon.

The last section of the Study presents the most employed U21 players for each league an-alysed. This allows us to identify some of the most promising footballers throughout Europe.

20 Demographic Study 2014

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sClub record, by league

Level 1ESP Barcelona 64.0%FRA Lyon 53.8%GER Freiburg 34.6%ENG Arsenal 32.3%ITA Atalanta 28.6%Level 2DEN Midtjylland 53.6%NED Feyenoord 52.0%GRE Ergotelis 48.0%AUT Admira Wacker 46.2%UKR Karpaty 44.4%SUI Young Boys 44.0%BEL Cercle Brugge 38.1%ROM Ceahlăul 37.5%POR Sporting CP 33.3%TUR Gençlerbirliği 25.9%RUS CSKA Moskva 22.7%Level 3HUN Szombathelyi Haladás 85.7%SCO Heart of Midlothian 80.0%CRO Osijek 77.4%SVK Trenčín 68.2%SWE Brommapojkarna 62.5%SRB FK Rad 60.0%CZE Sigma Olomouc 57.1%FIN JJK 54.2%ISR Beitar Jerusalem 50.0%BUL Litex 45.8%SVN Triglav 44.8%BLR Dnepr Mogilev 44.0%POL Wisła Kraków 43.5%CYP Enosis 41.7%NOR Odds BK 36.4%

Szombathelyi Haladás (Hunga-ry) is the European top division team composed of the highest percentage of players trained in the club (85.7%). Club-trained footballers represent more than three-quarters of squad mem-bers in two other teams: Hearts of Midlothian and Osijek.

At big-5 league level, only four clubs out of 98 are made up of a majority of club-trained players: Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Lyon.

Top 10, by level

Level 11. Barcelona (ESP) 64.0%2. Athletic Bilbao (ESP) 60.9%3. Real Sociedad (ESP) 57.7%4. Lyon (FRA) 53.8%5. Montpellier (FRA) 48.0%6. Sochaux (FRA) 42.3%7. Rennes (FRA) 40.0%8. Celta Vigo (ESP) 38.5%9. Freiburg (GER) 34.6%

10. Arsenal (ENG) 32.3%Level 2

1. Midtjylland (DEN) 53.6%2. AaB (DEN) 52.4%3. Feyenoord (NED) 52.0%4. Ergotelis (GRE) 48.0%5. Admira Wacker (AUT) 46.2%. Ajax (NED) 46.2%

7. Esbjerg (DEN) 45.5%8. Karpaty (UKR) 44.4%9. Young Boys (SUI) 44.0%

10. Sturm Graz (AUT) 41.7%Level 3

1. Szombathelyi Haladás (HUN) 85.7%2. Heart of Midlothian (SCO) 80.0%3. Osijek (CRO) 77.4%4. Trenčín (SVK) 68.2%5. MTK (HUN) 65.2%6. Brommapojkarna (SWE) 62.5%7. FK Rad (SRB) 60.0%8. Ružomberok (SVK) 59.1%9. Sigma Olomouc (CZE) 57.1%

10. JJK (FIN) 54.2%

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Szombathelyi Haladás (HUN).85.7%Heart of Midlothian (SCO) .......80.0%Osijek (CRO) ...........................77.4%Trenčín (SVK)..........................68.2%MTK (HUN)..............................65.2%Barcelona (ESP)......................64.0%Brommapojkarna (SWE) .........62.5%Athletic Bilbao (ESP) ...............60.9%FK Rad (SRB) .........................60.0%Ružomberok (SVK) .................59.1%Real Sociedad (ESP) ..............57.7%Sigma Olomouc (CZE) ............57.1%JJK (FIN) .................................54.2%Lyon (FRA) ..............................53.8%Midtjylland (DEN) ....................53.6%AaB (DEN)...............................52.4%Slovácko (CZE) .......................52.2%Lahti (FIN) ...............................52.2%Feyenoord (NED) ....................52.0%Hajduk Split (CRO)..................52.0%

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European Top 20

Highest % of club-trained players*

* Footballers who played for at least three seasons between the ages of 15 and 21 for their employer club

Club records 21

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s As last season, Ajax is the most prolific training club in Europe. The Dutch side has trained 69 players under contract with top division teams. While 12 foot-ballers still play for Ajax, 57 are employed by other teams.

The second most prolific training club is Partizan Belgrade, fol-lowed by Barcelona. The latter club tops the big-5 league table, followed by another very com-petitive Spanish team: Real Ma-drid. Many other top flight teams are in the top positions of the ranking.

Top 10, by level

Level 11. Barcelona (ESP) 61 (16)2. Real Madrid (ESP) 46 (7)3. Arsenal (ENG) 36 (10). Bayern München (GER) 36 (7). Lyon (FRA) 36 (14)

6. Rennes (FRA) 35 (10)7. PSG (FRA) 33 (3)8. Valencia (ESP) 30 (5)9. Manchester United (ENG) 29 (9)

. Sochaux (FRA) 29 (11)Level 2

1. Ajax (NED) 69 (12)2. Sporting CP (POR) 52 (8)3. Feyenoord (NED) 44 (13). Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 44 (5)

5. Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 43 (4)6. Porto (POR) 37 (1)7. Twente (NED) 34 (6)8. Heerenveen (NED) 32 (6)

. Benfica (POR) 32 (2)10. PSV (NED) 31 (7)Level 3

1. Partizan (SRB) 66 (7)2. Hajduk Split (CRO) 52 (13)3. Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 50 (5)4. Sparta Praha (CZE) 46 (6)5. Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 45 (7)6. MTK (HUN) 43 (15)7. Dinamo Minsk (BLR) 41 (8)

. Osijek (CRO) 41 (24)9. Slavia Praha (CZE) 39 (11)

10. Levski Sofia (BUL) 37 (4)

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Ajax (NED) .............................69 (12)Partizan (SRB) .......................66 (7)Barcelona (ESP).....................61 (16)Hajduk Split (CRO).................52 (13)Sporting CP (POR) .................52 (8)Crvena Zvezda (SRB) ............50 (5)Sparta Praha (CZE)................46 (6)Real Madrid (ESP) .................46 (7)Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) ...........45 (7)Feyenoord (NED) ...................44 (13)Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) ...............44 (5)MTK (HUN).............................43 (15)Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)........43 (4)Dinamo Minsk (BLR) ..............41 (8)Osijek (CRO) ..........................41 (24)Slavia Praha (CZE) ................39 (11)Levski Sofia (BUL)..................37 (4)Porto (POR)............................37 (1)Arsenal (ENG) ........................36 (10)Bayern München (GER) .........36 (7)

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European Top 20

Number of players trained in top division leagues*

Club record, by league

Level 1ESP Barcelona 61 (16)FRA Lyon 36 (14)ENG Arsenal 36 (10)GER Bayern München 36 (7)ITA Internazionale 25 (1)Level 2NED Ajax 69 (12)POR Sporting CP 52 (8)UKR Dynamo Kyiv 44 (5)BEL Standard 29 (6)RUS Spartak Moskva 29 (6)DEN Brøndby 27 (10)GRE Panathinaikos 26 (10)SUI Zürich 26 (10)AUT Rapid Wien 26 (9)TUR Beşiktaş 19 (2)ROM Dinamo București 17 (3)Level 3SRB Partizan 66 (7)CRO Hajduk Split 52 (13)CZE Sparta Praha 46 (6)HUN MTK 43 (15)BLR Dinamo Minsk 41 (8)BUL Levski Sofia 37 (4)SVK Nitra 32 (15)FIN HJK 32 (8)ISR Maccabi Tel Aviv 30 (10)SWE Malmö FF 26 (14)POL Wisła Kraków 24 (10)SVN Gorica 24 (10)SCO Celtic 22 (5)NOR Rosenborg 16 (5)CYP Apollon Limassol 16 (4)

* (): players who are still in the club

26 Demographic Study 2014

% of club-trained players, by league (2013)

clu

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D The percentage of club-trained players has decreased for the fourth consecutive season, reaching a new record low (21.2%). This proportion is much greater in the least competitive leagues (27.0%) than in the most competitive ones (16.5%).

The biggest decrease since 2009 was recorded in Eastern Europe (from 23.0% to 16.6%, -6.4%). The only continental area where the relative presence of players trained in the club has increased is Northern Europe (from 30.5% to 32.5%, +2.0%).

At league level, Sweden out-ranked Slovakia in the table of the leagues with the highest percentage of club-trained play-ers (38.9%). Sweden is also the country where the percent-age of club-trained footballers increased the most since 2009 (+8.1%).

2009 2010 2011 2012 201323.1% 22.9% 22.2% 21.6% 21.2%

By league level

0% 15% 30% 45%

Total

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

21.2%

27.0%

17.3%

16.5%

Highest decreases 1. Slovenia -14.8%2. Romania -7.0%3. Israel -6.8%4. Bulgaria -6.5%5. Ukraine -6.3%

By continental area

20.3%Western

32.5%Northern

26.7%Central

15.6%Southern

16.6%Eastern

Trend, by continental area

-0.8%Western

+2.0%Northern

-1.9%Central

-1.1%Southern

-6.4%Eastern

% of club-trained players (2013)

Trend since 2009

Highest increases 1. Sweden +8.1%2. Scotland +5.7%3. Austria +5.4%4. Switzerland +4.8%5. Czech Republic +4.7%

38.9

%

37.7

%

34.8

%

32.4

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32.3

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32.2

%

32.2

%

30.6

%

29.5

%

26.9

%

26.6

%

26.1

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24.3

%

24.2

%

23.6

%

21.1

%

20.6

%

20.4

%

19.7

%

19.2

%

17.1

%

16.6

%

16.0

%

15.5

%

13.8

%

13.6

%

12.9

%

12.0

%

11.3

%

9.1%

8.4%

0%

15%

30%

45%

SW

E

SV

K

FIN

CR

O

DE

N

ISR

SC

O

CZE SU

I

HU

N

SV

N

BLR

AU

T

NO

R

FRA

ES

P

NE

D

UK

R

PO

L

SR

B

GR

E

GE

R

BU

L

BE

L

CY

P

EN

G

RO

M

PO

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RU

S

TUR

ITA